Indian PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Nalanda University Campus in Rajgir, Bihar

Rajgir: Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the new campus of Nalanda University at Rajgir, Bihar. The University is conceived as a collaboration between India and East Asia Summit(EAS) countries. Several eminent people including the Head of Missions of 17 countries attended the inauguration ceremony. The Prime Minister also planted a sapling.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed delight and thanked his good fortune in visiting Nalanda within 10 days of taking oath as the Prime Minister for the third term and said that it is a positive indication towards the developmental journey of India. “Nalanda is not just a name, it is an identity, a regard. Nalanda is the root, it is the mantra. Nalanda is the proclamation of the truth that knowledge cannot be destroyed even though books would burn in a fire,”, the Prime Minister exclaimed. He underlined that the establishment of the new Nalanda University would initiate the golden age of India.

The Prime Minister said that the revival of Nalanda near its ancient ruins will introduce India’s capabilities to the world as it will tell the world that nations with strong human values are capable of creating a better world by rejuvenating history.

Shri Modi stressed that Nalanda carries the heritage of the world, Asia and many countries and its revival is not restricted to revival of Indian aspects. This is evident from the presence of so many countries in today’s inauguration, he added acknowledging the contribution of the friendly nations in the Nalanda project. He also praised the people of Bihar for their determination to bring back its glory which is reflected in Nalanda.

Pointing out that Nalanda was once the living center of India’s culture and traditions, the Prime Minister said that the meaning of Nalanda is the continuous flow of knowledge and education and this has been India’s approach and thinking towards education. “Education is beyond boundaries. It inculcates values and thought while giving it shape.”, the Prime Minister said, highlighting that students were admitted to the ancient Nalanda University irrespective of their identities and nationalities. He also stressed the need to strengthen the same ancient traditions in the newly inaugurated Nalanda University Campus in modern form. The Prime Minister expressed delight that students from more than 20 countries are already studying at Nalanda University and said that it is the perfect example of ‘Vasudhaiva  Kutumbakam’.

The Prime Minister highlighted the Indian tradition of treating education as a tool of human welfare. He mentioned the upcoming International Yoga Day and said that Yoga Day has become an international festival. He said despite developing so many strands of Yoga, no one in India expressed any monopoly over Yoga. Similarly, India shared Ayurveda with the entire world, he said. PM Modi also underlined India’s devotion to sustainability and said that in India, we have carried progress and environment together. This allowed India to provide initiatives like Mission LiFE and International Solar Alliance. He said the Nalanda Campus with its pioneering Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Emission, Net Zero Water and Net Zero Waste model will carry forward the spirit of sustainability.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the development of education leads to the deepening of the roots of the economy and culture. This is borne out by the global experience and experience of the developed countries. “India that is working on its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 is transforming its education system”, said the Prime Minister. He further added “My mission is that India becomes the center of education and knowledge for the world. My mission is that India should again be recognized as the most prominent knowledge center of the world.” Prime Minister noted initiatives like Atal Tinkering Labs catering to more than a crore children, interest in science generated by Chandrayaan and Gaganyaan, and Startup India leading to 1.30 lakh startups in India from a few hundred 10 years ago. Filing of a record number of patents and research papers and 1 lakh crore research fund.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s efforts to create the most comprehensive and complete skilling system along with the most advanced research-oriented higher education system in the world. He also mentioned improved performances by India’s universities in global rankings. Throwing light on the recent achievements in the field of education and skill development in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister mentioned a rise in the number of Indian educational institutions from 9 to 46 in QS Ranking and 13 to 100 in Times Higher Education Impact Ranking. Within the last 10 years in India, the Prime Minister informed that one university has been established every week, a new ITI has been established every day, an Atal Tinkering Lab has been opened every third day, and two new colleges have been established every day. He further added that India is home to 23 IITs today, the number of IIMs have gone up from 13 to 21 and the number of AIIMS has risen almost three times to 22. “In 10 years, the number of medical colleges has also almost doubled”, he said. Touching upon the reforms in the educational sector, the Prime Minister mentioned the New Educational Policy and said that it has given a new dimension to the dreams of India’s youth. Shri Modi also mentioned the collaboration of Indian and foreign universities, and the opening up of new campuses of international universities like Deakin and Wollongong. “With all these efforts, Indian students are getting the best educational institutions in India for higher education. This is also saving money for our middle class”, PM Modi added.

Mentioning the recent opening of global campuses of premier Indian institutions, the Prime Minister expressed the same hope for Nalanda.

The Prime Minister underlined that the world’s eyes are fixed on the youth of India. “India is the country of Lord Buddha, and the world wishes to walk shoulder to shoulder with the mother of democracy”, the Prime Minister continued, “When India says ‘One Earth, One Family, and One Future’, the world stands with it. When India says ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’, it is considered the way of the future for the world. When India says One Earth One Health, the world respects and accepts its views. “The land of Nalanda can give a new dimension to this feeling of universal brotherhood. Therefore, the responsibility of the students of Nalanda is even greater”, PM Modi said.

Calling Nalanda students and scholars the future of India, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of the next 25 years of Amrit Kaal and called upon them to carry the ‘Nalanda Way’ and values of Nalanda with them. He asked them to Be Curious, Be Courageous and Above All, Be Kind in line with their logo and asked them to work for positive change in society.

The Prime Minister expressed the belief that Nalanda’s knowledge would give direction to humanity and that the youth would lead the whole world in the coming times. “I believe Nalanda will become an important center for global cause”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Governor of Bihar, Shri Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Nitish Kumar, Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Pabitra Margherita, Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar, Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha and Shri Samrat Choudary, Chancellor of Nalanda University, Prof. Arvind Panagariya, and Vice Chancellor of Nalanda University, Prof Abhay Kumar Singh were present on the occasion among other dignitaries.

Background

The Nalanda University Campus has two Academic Blocks with 40 Classrooms having a total seating capacity of around 1900. It has two auditoriums having a capacity of 300 seats each, a student hostel with a capacity of around 550 students and various other facilities including an International Centre, an Amphitheater that can accommodate up to 2000 individuals, a Faculty Club and a Sports Complex among others.

The Campus is a ‘Net Zero’ Green Campus. It is Self-Sustainable with solar plant, domestic and drinking water treatment plant, water recycling plant for reusing wastewater, 100 acres of water bodies, and many other environment-friendly facilities.

The University has a deep connection with history. The original Nalanda University, established around 1600 years ago, is considered to be amongst the first residential universities in the world. The ruins of Nalanda were declared as a UN Heritage Site in 2016.